70 to Freezing in 7 hours. A Nov/Dec 2011 trip report. Updated 4/28

[petals]

Congrats!!

Thanks

Sounds like you had a great time at the concert!

It was brilliant. I love my Westlife so much. Going to see them again next week but the 23rd is their "last ever concert" I don't believe that. I give it five years and they'll be back together. At least that's what I'm going to keep saying to myself at the same time I will be bawling my eyes out at that final concert next week.

That parade for manchester day makes me think of Mummers Parade meets Macy's Parade from the pictures.

The parade in Manchester was really good. Lots of variety and that Dragon thing I put a pic of was just cool. You don't see it in the picture but it was really really long and made entirely of balloons. It was all so creative.

Did you ever have American Smarties? I see "your" smarties in the picture. Yours are so much more exciting, but I can't eat them. My son's loved them, a few years ago funniebunny brought them over here for them.

I don't think we ever saw the American Smarties. We had some of the different m&m's in m&m's world but no smarties. I can get you some of our smarties and send them over if you like.

I know all about those squirrels! They are bold, even when not fed by guests. We have so many squirrels in our oaks. They scold us as we get in and out of the car. The kids playing in the yard bring a symphony of birds and squirrels who think we are invading their turf.

I liked looking at the Squirrels that little fellow got friendly though and came closer before turning evil and hissing at me.

You're in Orlando btw aren't you. Name some of the local radio stations there please?

What a fun and quick trip to Manchester! I love the Beefeater Mickey...so British!

I thought the English Disney toys were cute. It was a good trip to Manchester. We usually try go over a few times a year because of my sister and nieces living over there it was just a lucky weekend to go this time because normally all we do is shop last weekend there was loads of other stuff happening though.

We took a few things with us to from DC in the way of some treats!

I think you have to because you pay so much in.

 

[lovethattink]

Thanks


It was brilliant. I love my Westlife so much. Going to see them again next week but the 23rd is their "last ever concert" I don't believe that. I give it five years and they'll be back together. At least that's what I'm going to keep saying to myself at the same time I will be bawling my eyes out at that final concert next week.


The parade in Manchester was really good. Lots of variety and that Dragon thing I put a pic of was just cool. You don't see it in the picture but it was really really long and made entirely of balloons. It was all so creative.


I don't think we ever saw the American Smarties. We had some of the different m&m's in m&m's world but no smarties. I can get you some of our smarties and send them over if you like.


I liked looking at the Squirrels that little fellow got friendly though and came closer before turning evil and hissing at me.

You're in Orlando btw aren't you. Name some of the local radio stations there please?

I only listen to two different radio stations and they are both Christian. The JoyFM out of Sarasota and Z88.3 out of Orlando.

Here are links

http://www.thejoyfm.com/

http://zradio.org/

Our Smarties are more like Sweet Tarts but smaller in a twisty wrap pack. Absolutely no chocolate in them.

 

[Caretames1]

Sounds like a Awesome time with the dolphins! Maybe when Kadence gets older, she can do this. I think she'd be too much a of a chicken right now.

Funny that they wanted you to buy a video of the swim, but your Mom got it all on tape!


Call letters or dial number?

WAPL/105.7
WIXX/101.1
WOZZ/93.5
WNCY/100.4
WDUX/92.7

 

[amandaw]

First...for the radio game! These are some local radio stations down here:

99.9 KTDY
94.5 KSMB

Sounds like you had a fun time swimming with the Dolphins! I don't blame your Momma for not wanting to spend too much time with the birds. I'm a bit scared of them so I don't think I would want to spend too much time with them either.

 

[petals]

I only listen to two different radio stations and they are both Christian. The JoyFM out of Sarasota and Z88.3 out of Orlando.

Here are links

http://www.thejoyfm.com/

http://zradio.org/

Excellent I'm sending CV's to radio stations everywhere

Our Smarties are more like Sweet Tarts but smaller in a twisty wrap pack. Absolutely no chocolate in them.

How can you have smarties with no chocolate

Sounds like a Awesome time with the dolphins! Maybe when Kadence gets older, she can do this. I think she'd be too much a of a chicken right now.

It's not that bad though but i think it's prob better when she's older because she'll remember it more. I know alot of stuff I did when I was her age I barely remember now like.

Funny that they wanted you to buy a video of the swim, but your Mom got it all on tape!

I think technically speaking Momma wasn't meant to be taping it

Call letters or dial number?

WAPL/105.7
WIXX/101.1
WOZZ/93.5
WNCY/100.4
WDUX/92.7

Whichever I can look up on the internet and find contact details for I'm on a get me into radio buzz

 

[afwdwfan]

Looks like a great weekend getaway with your sister's family. I'm glad you got to enjoy your concert.

The dolphin swim looks like it was a lot of fun as well. I don't know that we'll ever take the time (and money) to go to Discovery Cove, but it is definitely something we'll have to think about. We just never spend enough time in Orlando to do many of the new things we want to try and still do all our old favorites.

Here are a few radio stations that I listen to
103.3 WRZX
94.7 WFBQ
95.5 WFMS
101.5 WKKG
100.3 WYGB

 

[petals]

First...for the radio game! These are some local radio stations down here:

99.9 KTDY
94.5 KSMB

Here are a few radio stations that I listen to
103.3 WRZX
94.7 WFBQ
95.5 WFMS
101.5 WKKG
100.3 WYGB

Thanks I plan on sending my CV around the world

Sounds like you had a fun time swimming with the Dolphins! I don't blame your Momma for not wanting to spend too much time with the birds. I'm a bit scared of them so I don't think I would want to spend too much time with them either.

Lol I think she was traumatised from Animal Kingdom still. I don't mind them so long at they don't fly at me. Dolphin swim was good

Looks like a great weekend getaway with your sister's family. I'm glad you got to enjoy your concert.

It was a great weekend. The concert was brilliant and this day next week they'll be in Croke Park and I'll be screaming my brains out again It's gonna be so sad though because Saturday is their last ever concert (I so don't believe that but that's what they're saying!)

The dolphin swim looks like it was a lot of fun as well. I don't know that we'll ever take the time (and money) to go to Discovery Cove, but it is definitely something we'll have to think about. We just never spend enough time in Orlando to do many of the new things we want to try and still do all our old favorites.

I think it's worth the money once maybe. I didn't pay the first time I went my Momma gave it to me as a 21st birthday present. But the park is unbelievable it's like a little paradise away from the bustle of all the other parks and the rest of Orlando.

 

[petals]

Oh how I despise my computer. It runs an anti-virus check every week since it came back from being fixed and last night discovered 7 more viruses on it great so set the nice little security yoke to delete these and it's been on all day and it gets to a certain point and stops and doesn't delete the silly viruses on top of that my drag to disc is still getting same error message and now the scanner won't work either.

 

[petals]

After the little rant above have and update:
Day 9, part 3:

So when I left you we had just left the avairy and were wandering around Discovery Cove. We stopped at another snack bar where we picked up some chips and cereal bars and I got a frozen lemonade to try. Then we decided to head towards the Grand Reef to see some fisheys:

Momma sat herself in a sun chair while I waded in a little to get some fish pics. I didn't stay long because frankly being in the water with those rays creeps me out:

and once I spotted this giant sitting right beside me I was out of there:

We headed back to serenity bay then and I went around the Lazy river taking pics:

I thought it was kinda cool going under all the waterfalls:

Once I was finished with the Lazy River it was getting near park closing time so we went to get washed and dressed and collect the photos. We then waited for a shuttle bus to bring us back to Seaworld and I took pics while we were waiting:

When we got to the Seaworld car-park I asked Momma if she wanted to go into Seaworld for a few hours since it was only 5pm and Seaworld was open until 11. I figured we could do some of the Christmas stuff that night so we wouldn't have as much to fit in when we went to Seaworld she said no though so we got the iride back to the hotel. We got to the hotel at about six and after we put warmer clothes on decided to give something else a try on International drive that we wanted to see last year but never quite got to.


Next up: Titanic and shopping

 

[jenseib]

this sounds like such a fun place. I do hope to go some day in the future.

 

[amandaw]

Sounds like it was quite the full day @ Discovery Cove!

Can't wait to hear what else y'all tried out.

 

[petals]

this sounds like such a fun place. I do hope to go some day in the future.

It's such a pretty park and so much more relaxing than the other parks because it doesn't feel crowded!

Sounds like it was quite the full day @ Discovery Cove!

Can't wait to hear what else y'all tried out.

Discovery cove has enough to do to amuse you all day but at same time doesn't feel rushed like the other parks where you have to get to such a place first for fast passes and then go there because the lines short or whatever else

 

[petals]

random nark #101 Is it just me or does anyone else think it's extremely rude when you're out with one other person and they spend all their time either texting or on the phone to someone else. I don't mean like they're out with you and have to take an important call like another friend texting or calling them constantly when they're with you.

 

[Caretames1]

Just a weird question? Didi the water with the rays in, stink?

Just that when we went to Sea World, the tank that had rays in it, the water stunk so bad! Sam flicked some water at me and I was a bit miffed at her for it cuz it ws sooo stinky.

 

[amandaw]

random nark #101 Is it just me or does anyone else think it's extremely rude when you're out with one other person and they spend all their time either texting or on the phone to someone else. I don't mean like they're out with you and have to take an important call like another friend texting or calling them constantly when they're with you.

It's not just you. That's definitely rude!

 

[petals]

Just a weird question? Didi the water with the rays in, stink?

Just that when we went to Sea World, the tank that had rays in it, the water stunk so bad! Sam flicked some water at me and I was a bit miffed at her for it cuz it ws sooo stinky.

No I noticed that in Seaworld as well. It doesn't stink like that in Discovery cove. I'm just freaked by them in general lol

It's not just you. That's definitely rude!

Thank you. I was beginning to wonder if it was just me that felt that way

 

[petals]

My Westlife are breaking up in two days

Have a trip report update thingy:

Day 9, Part 4:
So when I left you we were on the way back to the hotel from Discovery Cove. We got there by six so we went to change into warmer clothes and then headed out on International Drive. Just up from our hotel there was a kind of exhibit of Titanic stuff called Titanic the Experience and in 2010 when we were there I wanted to go see it but we never quite had time so we went up to check out the price and that:

It was 21.95 which we thought was a little expensive but decided to do it once to see what it was like. When you pay they give you a boarding pass and it has details of one of the passengers from Titanic on the back:

A guy dressed up like someone from third class acted as a kind of tour guide around the exhibit putting on an Iorish accent (fake Irish accent though not as bad as the Liverpool Irish man we'd met a few days before!) The exhibit takes you from the booking office right through various areas of the ship and the guide telling stories from the ship along the way.

The tour with the guide ends when he takes you to a kind of memorial room it has all the names of all the passengers and crew on the walls and after a video about Titanic the names of the passengers that survived light up and they invite you to see if the name of the passenger on your boarding card survived or not. This leads into a room full of newspaper bits from the sinking and props from various movies made of Titanic:

There was lots of pretty pictures of Leo as well

Of course as all good attractions do it finished up in the gift shop. Where they had key-rings, blankets and even fake heart of the ocean necklaces:

It was interesting to see once but sad at the same time with the stories of Titanic. I always question whether things like that are morally right making money off the memory of such a tragedy but then I suppose it's also a way to keep the memory alive of Titanic and all the poor souls that lost their lives. We were talking to two other people on the tour thing at the same time as us and they said it was their 5th time doing it because there's a different guide every time not always third class either and they tell different stories every time.
Momma was kind of sad after that so we went for a spot of retail therapy checking out the various gift shops on International Drive.
I apparently had a thing for the grumpy t-shirts on the last trip:

Chocolate right?! Would you really trust this:

This one kinda sums me up unless it's Disney, Westlife or media type people I'm not interested:

That was to me to leave behind so it came home with me as well as shiney purple Tinkerbell socks
We went back to the hotel then for an early night as we had a busy and long day the next day. I asked Momma what she thought of the day and she said she was to tired to have views on the day but got lots of free snacks
I caught up on my trip diary and read Kingdom Keepers before I went to sleep for the night.

Next up: The start of a long day with the fish

 

[lovethattink]

My son has that first Grumpy shirt. I found it at the Walmart on Turkey Lake Rd. He loves that it's blue! You have great taste!

That's funny about the accent. I wouldn't know the difference. We haven't been to the Titanic. I'm sure it would be sad. It does sound odd to make profit out of a tragedy, but it is historical at the same time. There are many lessons for us to learn as well from it.

Which Kingdom Keepers were you reading? I read the first one as soon as it came out. A friend gave my son an autographed copy and I had it read in no time. But it's taken me all this time to buy the 2nd one. I'm reading that one now. How do you like it?

 

[momabaarjo]

I understand how you feel about the Titanic exhibit. We have been several times when the traveling display as come close with real artifacts from the sinking site. It is an interesting point in history that draws us to the tragedy...

About Kingdom Keepers...Goo and I have been reading the first one FOREVER...I really need to get it finished up!

 

[petals]

My son has that first Grumpy shirt. I found it at the Walmart on Turkey Lake Rd. He loves that it's blue! You have great taste!

I like the grumpy t-shirts they tend to be funnier than the others

That's funny about the accent. I wouldn't know the difference. We haven't been to the Titanic. I'm sure it would be sad. It does sound odd to make profit out of a tragedy, but it is historical at the same time. There are many lessons for us to learn as well from it.

We prob only notice it because we're from Ireland. I'm sure if you came here and heard someone doing a fake american accent you'd spot that as well.
PS I love you the movie did that go stateside? The main guy in that is putting on a fake Irish accent as well it's terrible.
It was interesting and I do find it interesting to learn all the facts about it it was just the sounvenior shop really that made me go eh is this right?

Which Kingdom Keepers were you reading? I read the first one as soon as it came out. A friend gave my son an autographed copy and I had it read in no time. But it's taken me all this time to buy the 2nd one. I'm reading that one now. How do you like it?

I started the first one when I was in Florida I'm on the fourth one now.

I understand how you feel about the Titanic exhibit. We have been several times when the traveling display as come close with real artifacts from the sinking site. It is an interesting point in history that draws us to the tragedy...

I think the whole story is interesting and it's interesting to learn about the ship and how it happened esp this year with the 100th anniversary there was tonnes of documentaries on about it and when the movie with Leo came out i was super fan about it then and had books and all sorts about titanic it was just really some of the stuff in the shop that I felt were wrong.

About Kingdom Keepers...Goo and I have been reading the first one FOREVER...I really need to get it finished up!

I started reading that on my way over. I had bought it to have a Disney themed book to be reading when we weren't doing anything never did get much of a chance to read it though when we were there like this was day 9 and it was the first time I was reading more of it really since the plane